Essays

Only you can start forest fires

Do you remember Smokey the Bear and his somber admonition: “Only you…can prevent forest fires”? Growing up in the rugged wilderness of the Pacific Northwest,…

Homesick

“God on high, hear my prayer. In my need you have always been there. He is young, he’s afraid. Let him rest, heaven blessed. Bring…

Lonely at the top

It’s lonely at the top. Do you agree with that statement? Has it been true for you in your ministry experience? Some leaders renounce that…

Mid-season trades

Carmello Anthony is no longer a Denver Nugget. I’m sure that news is less than unimportant to you non-basketball fans; however, to those of us…

Bitter herbs

Well my daughters have officially reached a milestone in their march toward adolescence. They’ve said goodbye to tasty, bubble gum flavored amoxicillin, and started taking…

Go to the well, baby!

Image via Wikipedia In 1996 Evander Holyfield won a technical knockout over the wildly favored Mike Tyson and went on to secure his place among…

Your funeral script

Image via Wikipedia While traveling through Europe the summer after my high school graduation I made an interesting observation about many of the ancient cathedrals–their…

Code of Honor

In this month’s Ziklag meeting (our monthly men’s gathering) we reflected on the powerful, stirring words from a literal knights’ code of honor from the Middle…

Burning Incense

Well, unfortunately another little woodland creature decided to die inside the wall of Pastor Jerry’s office and reek out our entire building on our church…